Review: Blow

By Azad April 11, 2001 5:35 PM

Johnny Depp graces the screen once more with his strong but subtle performance as George Jung, the man responsible for popularizing the use of powder cocaine in the United States during the late 1970's. Blow is based on the sad but true story about this man, and the screenplay for the film was based on the book Blow, by Bruce Porter. The film also stars Penelope Cruz, Ray Liotta, and Paul Reubens.

The movie spans across three decades of the turbulent life of George Jung, the American cocaine smuggler who established the first vital link between Pablo Escobar's Colombian cartel and the United States in the 1970's, and as claimed in the film, is responsible for 80% of the incoming cocaine. The style of Blow is very subtle and focuses on drama instead of being action-packed, and Depp's performance as Jung reflects the film's style very well. The film mostly concentrates on George Jung's relationships with his family, friends and associates, building up empathy and understanding of the characters it presents. The film only touched very briefly into moral issues, but did not manage to deeply explore them and leaves something more to be desired. Other than that however, I thought Blow was a well done film which manages to show a thoughtful and convincing portrayal of the characters' lives fragmented by the drug culture.

Conclusion: I give this movie an 8/10. The film manages to tell the story based on emotion and realism rather than action and glamour, and viewers should try to appreciate it for that.

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RE: Review: Blow   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 12, 2001 5:39 AM

i agree that this movie should be recognized for more of the family and friends values rather than just the money and glamour.  i really enjoyed this film and hope it does well in it's life time.

RE: RE: Review: Blow   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 21, 2001 10:45 AM

Oh great, another softening of the view of yet another person in history responsible for one of the ills of society. Georeg Jung should be remembered for all the lives that were ruined by this drug. Period.

RE: RE: RE: Review: Blow   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on May 12, 2001 11:03 PM

You missed one of the main points.  The problem is that the wealthiest country in the world... with money to blow... is right next to some of the poorest countries in the world... where the free market law of supply and demand is what sets the tone.

The real people that ruin lives are the short sighted folks that try to legislate morality.  Those are the people that ruin lives.